Towns of Poland, [no. 44]

Salt mines and mining -- Poland

Carving (Decorative arts) -- Poland

RELIGIOUS FIGURES CARVED BY MINERS IN 900-YEAR OLD POLISH SALT MINE
Devoutly religious and with an inborn flair for sculpture these figures
portraying Christ changing water into wine at the vvedding feast were carved
in salt by ordinary laborers in the 900- year old Wieliczka salt mines, near
Cracow, Poland's ancient capital. They constitute one of many groups in
the ornately carved chapel of St. Kinga, who is reputed to have miraculously
discovered the mine more than 900 years ago while on her way to be crowned
queen of Poland. Throughout the centuries these miners have carved devotional
images in the vast maze of subterranean passages and chambers but many
of them have been partly erased by the erosion of salt due to the dampness
or the earth.

Centralna Agencja Fotograficzna

Polish

LIB-007_0469

LIB-007_0469a.tif

Krakow

LIB-007